Discrimination Against Condos
Raymond Harrison, Esq. had a plan to end discrimination against condos by the Town of Smithfield with regard to residential trash pick-up services. He was not the only condo homeowner and executive board member who thought that they were being treated unfairly by the Town when it comes to trash pick-up. Discussions with condo homeowners and executive board members from other condos in Town had a common theme. There were many examples of communication between us and Town officials, such as members of the clerk’s office, the public works department, the tax assessor and the tax collector. We would be given many different reasons as to why we weren’t receiving trash collection services. When we asked those Town officials to pick-up our trash, however, the response was always the same — the answer was “No.”
It’s Wise to Organize
Before approaching your City or Town with a serious effort to end discrimination against condo homeowners regarding trash pick-up, organize as many other residential condo associations in your City or Town to be part of the effort. Go to your Town assessor’s office to get information about every residential condominium in your Town. Your organization needs a person to be a diligent and effective leader. Come up with a name for your association. The history of the Smithfield Condominium Association in this blog series can be repeated in your City or Town. Persuading other executive board members to be part of your organization should not be too difficult. Ray’s experience was that all residential condo executive boards in Smithfield were enthusiastic about ending discrimination with regard to trash pick-up. They were all for saving money in the annual association budget and were happy that a leader had come along.
Timing of Your Condo Trash Activism
A capable leader should estimate that, with a reasonable amount of diligence, it would take 45 days or so to have a City or Town condo organization up and running. Use of the internet will make it easier to contact executive board members of other condos in your City or Town. Some condo associations have websites that you can search for. A small percentage of condo associations are nonprofit corporations with executive board information available on the Rhode Island Secretary of State website. Your organization will be most effective from June until November in a year when there is an election of Town council members. There will be more on election year strategy in upcoming blog posts, so check back for more information on the politics of trash. When your organization is ready to begin its own crusade, how you approach your City of Town is a crucial decision to make.
Start at the Top
Ray’s plan to end discrimination against condos was to start at the top with the Smithfield Town Council. This approach worked in Smithfield, the first municipality in Rhode Island to end discrimination against condo homeowners with trash pick-up services. If condo homeowners in your City or Town are paying for private trash pick-up because of discrimination, start at the top with your City or Town council. The council has the authority to assess and collect taxes and to determine how to spend tax revenue to provide services, including services to condo homeowners.
Visit Your Town or City Hall
Before making a date to appear before the Town council, visit your City or Town hall to become familiar with its layout along with the availability of parking. Check out the council chamber to be familiar with where council members sit, as well as seating for your condo organization members. Introduce yourself on behalf of the organization to the staff of the council office and ask about how to be placed on the agenda for a specific Town council meeting. You may want to visit your City or Town hall a few times before making a date to appear before the council to gain familiarity and confidence about the process. Get information about your council members including where they live, their occupations, community activities, background and family circumstances. Your purpose is to persuade council members to end trash pick-up discrimination against condo homeowners. Having as much information as possible about the persons you are trying to persuade helps with the art of persuasion.
Make a Date with the Council Members
When you and your organization are ready, walk into your City or Town hall like you own the place — because you do, along with everyone else in Town. Be confident and positive at all times. Be courteous and friendly with all City or Town hall employees. Make a date to appear before the council for a specific meeting and get information about what other items will be on the agenda and when you are likely to be heard by the council. It’s best for there to be as many organization members present as possible for every council meeting. Your leader will stand before the council to make your case directly to the council members. You should expect there to be a dialogue with council members.
How Long Will it Take to End Discrimination
Ray advocated on behalf of the Smithfield Condominium Association at many Town council meetings. At times, there were less than ten association members present and at other times there were 25 or more association members present at the Town council meetings. The answer to how long will it take is, as long as it takes. Making one appearance before your City or Town council will not be enough to end discrimination of trash pick-up against condo homeowners. When City or Town council members believe that your organization is growing in strength and that you will continue to attend council meetings, that’s when it becomes likely that discrimination against condo homeowners with regard to trash pick-up will end. Check back for more information in upcoming blog posts if you have a private trash pick-up line item in your association budget and your City or Town provides trash pickup to single-family homes.
